Councillors in Nailsea claim a proposal for 170 homes in Youngwood Lane is the ‘thin end of the wedge’ and will lead to hundreds more being built on the green space.

The site is one of a further 22 which North Somerset Council agreed to adopt for housing as part of its Core Strategy last week.

Mactaggart & Mickel has applied for permission to built 450 homes on the land and councillors believe it is ‘inevitable’ this will now be agreed.

Town leaders are calling for a masterplan to be drawn up to prevent ‘chaotic development’ and a ‘lack of infrastructure’.

Councillor James Tonkin, who represents Nailsea for North Somerset, said: “170 houses is clearly the thin edge of the wedge. Given the precedent of the new allocation, a current application for 460 houses will inevitably be passed at some stage and further development of the Youngwood Lane area is highly likely to follow, rising to 1,000-plus homes.

“Where is the infrastructure for this sort of development? Surely this is the time to look at a greenbelt review as part of a masterplan for the town and surrounding areas, to identify more suitable sites for development.”

Nailsea Town Council has been calling for a greenbelt review for years to protect Youngwood Lane.

The authority says it recognises the need for housing, but stresses piecemeal development with no infrastructure is ‘unacceptable’.

It is now looking to draw up a town plan and members are also calling for a masterplan for North Somerset.

Chairman David Packham said: “For North Somerset to propose an allocation of 170 houses without consulting the town on layout, housing mix and infrastructure, as well as ignoring the town council’s objection to the allocation of this site, reflects a council which is failing to properly plan for the future.

“Without a masterplan for our town, as well as the surrounding areas, future development will be chaotic and fail to provide the standards of housing we should be building.

“I urge North Somerset Council to recognise the need for joint working to develop a masterplan for the individual towns and parishes and the authority as a whole and not to proceed with any new development under the JSP proposals until this is complete, funding is secured and the infrastructure is in place.”